North Sikkim [Yumthang-Gurudongmar] "Self Drive"

adc

I, my wife and our 4 year old son are planning to travel to North Sikkim by Tata Safari SUV, myself driving from Calcutta. The tour will most probably be around 2nd/3rd week of June.

Heard that they do not allow to drive beyond Mangan; if that is true, is there any way one could obtain permmission and from whom.

Is there independent homestay/hotels at Lachung and Lachen i.e. will I be able to obtain rooms or are all the rooms available here comes with package deal.

Looking forward to the opinions and as always thanks much in advance.

nikon_D300

Hi ADC

What on earth gives you this IDEA.
Driving beyong Lachung or Lachen needs Permits as the area is border to China (Tibet). So for unknown persons getting permit will be bit tough or maybe time consuming.
So it is always better to visit those places vide some North Sikkim Tour Operator which is more than sufficient in Gangtok.

Secondly, All the hotels in North sikkim are to be booked through Package deal from Gangtok or else.

If you take my advice it is better to arrange to keep your Car in Gangtok and travel with Local operators. As this operators are local and very well known to Govt. officials so they arrange them very fast. Also it will not be safe for you to drive down to North Sikkim as the roads are very rough and you cant be as good as those local drivers. They are Expert.

Wish you Good Luck

__________________
With Best Wishes...

Radjesh

Individuals are not given permits because of security reasons as it is very close to the border. You must go through a tour operator, book an exclusive vehicle for yourself and enjoy.

carsten

Not to add further discouragement, but the rain at late June will make it even more challenging... even if you're not driving ...

- Carsten

adc

Yeah the rains are what made me drop my plan. I would be going during the March-April or November-December season as thats the time it is most scenic. Definitely going by car only, army contacts are being used. BTW, thats a fantastic website you have.

Self drive is the only way I travel as long as it is even remotely feasible - that way the journey of going and especially coming back are not just a formality but thats very much also a part and parcel of your tour experience and of course you cover all places, remote or otherwise, not some set places where a taxi driver takes you.

HiSuman

Dear ADC,
I am DISCOURAGING you with a capital D on three points:

1) The time u have chosen. You will be lucky if you at all reach Lachen in this monsoon. Why on earth do u want to go now? Are u tired of life? Go during the Oct-Nov season.

2) Never self drive on these roads. U dont know whats in store for you. I have been to that place very recently and have stayed full 5 days at those icy heights. The Indian Army wont allow you to go beyong Mangan where they only allow registered vehicles and select drivers beyond this point. This is for security reasons as you will driving sometimes just 10 kms from China border. The army only allows the drivers they know. Trust me. Its true. Also you will put ur family to great risk. sometimes its just plain desert in the tibetain plateau and u may get lost and the roads beyond Thangu is very treacherous and only highly skilled mountain drivers can make their way.

3) Dont put your 4 year old son to great risks. oxygen is very less there. Even we adults faced difficulty. Its 17200 ft approx. Nausea and headache will be common. Its not advisable anyone less than 6 years and more 45 years to go there.

Also please note that individuals cannot go simply because the Army wont trust you. You have to go through specialised package tours from tour operators from Gangtok. Bookings can be done from here only.

If you need any more information , please do let me know. If you want to see heaven and come back and relish those moments, please be careful about the above points.

Fan of India

Well said Suman. I have been there and agree completely with you.

cutiepie

and anyways tourists are rushing back coz of unrest in the hills. though sikki wud not be affected,its road links with siliguri would. why get stranded there huh?

arinhere

everything has been said..just add a bit...if wanna visit in december with your kids then you should think twice before visiting...last year i was in north sikkim in december last week and it was freezing cold....even in lachen water in bathroom, freezed at night...and if you planned to visit Zero point, keep in mind that, strong chilling wind blowing all the time....there will no snow to play with...those are all freezed...

Gurudongmar getting freezed by that time....but the beauty is awesome.....so please be sure to go with ur family that time and it'll be better to contact any travel operator from G1angtok

here are some pics of the trip
http://www.orkut.co.in/Album.aspx?ui...43 5799&aid=1

Voodoo

I have just visited both the places and my recommendation would be a STRONG NO on self drive. The roads (if you can call these so..) are scary with hairpin bends every now then and oncoming vehicles on every blind corner. The local drivers have very good understanding and they can miraculously escape collisions which could be challanging for people like us who faces different type of challanges (auto and taxis) on Kolkata roads.

It's again my very personal suggestion.

singsub

so OP... what did you decide... are you still going ahead with your plan?

adc

First of all a big thanks to all for your concerns and suggestions. Definitely I am not going now, given the trouble in the hills, the rain and all such. So to enjoy rains/monsoon it is better now to go to Chattisgarh [Chitrakote falls] and Chilka Lake and Kakinada area.

I have some army contacts now, through a distant relative, so going beyond Mangan will not be a problem now. All permits will be arranged so that I can drive myself to North Sikkim. Thanks for all the caution and will be taking adequate precautions.

So planning North Sikkim in March-April 2009, when the scenery is most beautiful, IF ONLY, I am not going to interior Arunachal Pradesh and Namdapha forest, this also by self-drive.

OT: Planning to go to Bhutan this October Puja holidays? Is October month a good time to visit. Is it possible to reach Paro or Thimpu from Siliguri directly in 1 day driving.